it's a lot easier than you think


bad judgement doesn't mean bad character

12/5/2008 9:41:11 AM

Quote :

"at least she is ACTUALLY currently studying law. That makes her more qualified to give advice than everyone else that has posted in this thread, including yourself ambrosia."

I know this.

She's not giving legal advice. She's giving advice on where to maybe get a little bit of help.

The probably won't take his case, and that's how it should be.
Not only has the kid let this get as far as it has, he apparently doesn't know how to use google.

I reiterate: don't waste legal aid's time. I don't foresee them saying 'yeah, we'll take on a case that you could have easily averted any time within the past [x years] with a simple phone call or two, especially when need is higher than ever, and this is only a $1500 base issue. But, you have to tell the gentleman in the lobby that the reason he's not getting help with getting back wages from a crooked employer is because we're bailing your ass out of $1500, even when we can't do a lot'.

I'm all for recommending people take advantage of services they rightfully deserve. Hoping that an over-burdened service will save your ass on this? You don't deserve it.

He's fucked six ways til Sunday already. Legal Aid can't do too much here, which is why I say to stop recommending them. He can do 80% of the things they would on his own, and if he gets a jackass judge? He deserves it, for letting it get this far.

This is why people need to grow up with good parenting, and not in a nanny state. Otherwise, you end up with folks who pretend there are no consequences for their actions, and start flailing in the water when they have to face the music.
--
His credit is so fucked already that a judgment is just one more thing, but really...right now, he about nothing to lose. Another reason to stop recommending legal aid. Save it for people who stand to lose a fair bit.


[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 9:43 AM. Reason : lkjd]

12/5/2008 9:41:51 AM

Quote :

"Because they give you free sodas and free t-shirts on college campuses to sign up for credit cards."

throw "free money" at 18-20 year olds without a good understanding of how credit cards work.

Quote :

"This is why people need to grow up with good parenting, and not in a nanny state. Otherwise, you end up with folks who pretend there are no consequences for their actions, and start flailing in the water when they have to face the music."

I somewhat take offense to this comment. I grew up with great parents, who always taught me the value of earning what I have. I had a job since I was 15, and always had to pay my own bills. But I, too, got caught up in credit card debt because of MY OWN misunderstanding and carelessness. I was duped by credit card companies who made me believe that I could afford to have $6k in credit, and that I would have no problems paying it back. My parents and my upbringing had nothing to do with it.




[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 9:44 AM. Reason : a]

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 9:46 AM. Reason : s]

12/5/2008 9:42:33 AM

I always wrote fake names / addresses on those things

12/5/2008 9:44:23 AM

My mom gave me the great advice of never purchasing something on a credit card that you couldn't immediately pay off with cash in hand.

It limits you sometimes...but it definitely helps you out in the long run.

12/5/2008 9:49:02 AM

all you have to do is call the credit card place and tell them that you want to settle with them, they will ask you how much you earn a month and how much you are able to pay a month (so you need to get a job or borrow some money from family). As long as you make an effort and dont run away from the problem, they will probably only make you pay back ~60% of the total balance of what you owe.

you just have to make an effort of good faith and they will back off.

its not the end of the fucking world like some people on here are making it out to be

12/5/2008 9:49:23 AM

^^^^amen

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 9:49 AM. Reason : asdf]

12/5/2008 9:49:37 AM

Both of my parents cautioned me to never get credit cards. It was my fault for not listening, and to this day I still blame credit card companies for the way they target college kids. It is probably different now with how strict the banks are to lend money these days. But when I was 19 I was able to get $3k credit cards from 2 different companies, without having any prior credit. So forgive me if I blame at least a small portion of the credit card debt people my age are in on the irresponsibility of credit card companies in their lending practices.

12/5/2008 9:53:14 AM

it's funny to see all the credit card companies that are usually in the brickyard during the first week or so of classes. If you're dumb enough to give a card to a kid starting college with no money and no job, then you shouldn't get mad when they don't pay.

12/5/2008 9:53:16 AM

^^dude...i got a mortgage loan on my house a week before i had a job


it's not that hard

12/5/2008 9:54:52 AM

I woke up to my cell phone disconnected and $20 in the bank if it makes you feel any better.

12/5/2008 9:56:09 AM

I just spent $500 bucks on a set of tires.

12/5/2008 9:56:57 AM

Although I will say this....when I got way in over my head and the credit card companies were calling me 4 times a day, I didn't bitch and moan about it. I made payment arrangements, settled for less than was owed, and took the hit on my credit. But I took care of it and didn't just run from the problem.

12/5/2008 9:57:45 AM

Quote :

"i got a mortgage loan on my house a week before i had a job "

i got a mortgage without a job period.

12/5/2008 10:08:20 AM

I guess I was really wondering if I could be jailed for this, although I appreciate the other comments.

12/5/2008 10:08:37 AM

I guess I was wondering if I could be jailed for this, although I appreciate the other comments. It wouldn't really make sense to send someone to jail, because they still wouldn't see their money.

Oh, and I've learned my life lessons about ten times over (in terms of punishment to mistake ratio).

12/5/2008 10:11:00 AM

No

12/5/2008 10:12:05 AM

It's a civil matter, you can't go to jail for it.

At the very worst, you will have a court order to pay by a certain date. Or, they could potentially dock your wages a certain amount every month. I think that is the case at least, I might be wrong

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 10:13 AM. Reason : a]

12/5/2008 10:12:21 AM

Oh ok, cool.

12/5/2008 10:15:00 AM

yea, don't worry about paying it, you won't go to jail..and won't get a job.. so essentially you don't lose anything!!1!

12/5/2008 10:16:28 AM

Some days i wonder how our country has gone down the shitter so fast. Other days, like today, I am reminded just how it does happen.

12/5/2008 10:24:09 AM

and we wonder why our country is in the financial mess it is in today. You shouldn't even be allowed to apply for a credit card until you are 21

12/5/2008 10:25:55 AM

spontaneous you should have made this thread before this point - you should call them and see if they will work out a payment plan - but it sounds like with no income that you'd fail to honor it

Quote :

"I was duped by credit card companies who made me believe that I could afford to have $6k in credit, and that I would have no problems paying it back. My parents and my upbringing had nothing to do with it."

at least you don't blame being duped on someone else i guess - but you have to question the intelligence of the people that are duped

12/5/2008 10:27:27 AM

As Duke said,

1.

Quote :

"why'd you let it get this bad?"

2. Get a fucking job. It may not be what you want, and it may not be what you feel you are worth, but get a fucking job. Worry about getting a better one later.


3. Education is expensive, no matter how you get it.


Basically, grow the fuck up, man. I thought you would have gotten a job by now (been in trouble since the spring iirc). Depending on cddweller like you have been is pretty shitty. I mean, her status is "Spontaneous' bitch"

Welcome to the real world. You're what? 23, 24? I'll almost have my student loans paid off by then.

12/5/2008 10:36:45 AM

I am surprised that jackleg hasn't jumped in on this one.

GL with the situation though

12/5/2008 10:54:12 AM

Quote :

"Get a fucking job. It may not be what you want, and it may not be what you feel you are worth, but get a fucking job. Worry about getting a better one later."

12/5/2008 10:59:02 AM

Quote :

"Some days i wonder how our country has gone down the shitter so fast. Other days, like today, I am reminded just how it does happen. "

fuckin A man

12/5/2008 11:25:24 AM

Quote :

"I guess I was really wondering if I could be jailed for this, although I appreciate the other comments."

Um, we don't have debtor's prisons anymore.

They can't do too much to you. They chose to give unsecured debt to a lot of unqualified people and now they are paying the price for it. Seems to me that the CC companies finally hung themselves with their own noose.

*Disclaimer: I'm all about taking responsibility and paying what you owe...but the CC shouldn't be targeting students like a pack of vultures.

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 11:32 AM. Reason : jackyl!!!!!]

12/5/2008 11:31:14 AM

Personally, I feel people like you should go to jail. Not paying them back is essentially theft. Not for a long period of time or anything, maybe 30 days, just enough to sort out their priorities and get their act together.

12/5/2008 12:22:58 PM

Quote :

"I somewhat take offense to this comment. I grew up with great parents, who always taught me the value of earning what I have. "

I knew that someone was going to make a comment like this - the 'i take offense to this; I had great parents!' part.

Quote :

"But I, too, got caught up in credit card debt because of MY OWN misunderstanding and carelessness. "

Quote :

"Although I will say this....when I got way in over my head and the credit card companies were calling me 4 times a day, I didn't bitch and moan about it. I made payment arrangements, settled for less than was owed, and took the hit on my credit. But I took care of it and didn't just run from the problem."

And did you learn anything from this?
Yes?
Congratulations.

I'm referring to the people who, despite piles and piles of evidence around them, still believe they can do what they want and not worry about the consequences.

The ones with no personal responsibility. That's something that's instilled during childhood.
There's a difference between making mistakes, and covering your own ass afterwards, and learning in a real-world environment, and then living with one's head in the sand. The latter is what I'm referring to here, and not just in spontaneous' case - it's everywhere among the younger generation. Remember those two girls who stole money from the girl scout, and were like 'ugh...whatever! I don't see why it's a big deal'? They're entirely too common, and that's the type of parenting I'm referring to just, but in an extreme case.

Quote :

"So forgive me if I blame at least a small portion of the credit card debt people my age are in on the irresponsibility of credit card companies in their lending practices."

I agree with you fully.
They're scumbags, and I wish to god they were more regulated. However, the only person anyone can count on to protect them is themselves. Yes, I'm speaking from both hindsight and an extraordinary upbringing, but that's what parents are for (in part): to teach critical thought, personal finance, self-reliance, and independence. A good head, via sound parenting, won't stop young folk (god, I say this as a 23yo ) from making stupid mistakes, but my god, it will keep the number waaaaaaay down.

Quote :

"If you're dumb enough to give a card to a kid starting college with no money and no job, then you shouldn't get mad when they don't pay."

No shit.
I wish they weren't allowed on campus at all.

Quote :

"Or, they could potentially dock your wages a certain amount every month. I think that is the case at least, I might be wrong"

They can do this (in NC, only with a court order - FYI to anyone else reading this who might have CC problems. Do not let debt collectors bully you. Know your rights)

Quote :

"Personally, I feel people like you should go to jail. Not paying them back is essentially theft. Not for a long period of time or anything, maybe 30 days, just enough to sort out their priorities and get their act together."

Gov't resources are much better spent on other things. Including, but not limited to, better k-12 education that includes more than a mere mention of personal finance.

Spontaneous, you must get a job.
Now.
It's non-negotiable.

Credit history doesn't just affect your future borrowing options and interest rates. It can affect employment, too. Bad credit history + poor/short/non-existent work history...not a good combination to be working with, and at the moment, you can start building a work history. I don't understand why on earth you don't have a job. Like, it's seriously incomprehensible to me.

12/5/2008 2:58:48 PM

Ok since we're talking about the law, how does one get out of a telemarketing scam that went "We are doing a demographic research in your area, pls list address, name, and ph numbers. Oh lookie here you won free magazines, pls confirm address, ok now you owe us money for shipping and handling! We got verification to charge you through the phone though you didn't know it!"

I can't find anything online except that it is indeed a scam.

12/5/2008 3:06:06 PM

What do you mean 'out of?'

Like, make them stop contacting you?
How are they contacting you?

Unfortunately, the folks who runs scams either
- base it abroad, so they aren't subject to the law
- openly flaunt the law, knowing that most of the time, they won't suffer any penalties.

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM. Reason : more details, please.]

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM. Reason : phone, huh? play along, get contact info, report them to the FCC, who doesn't do much]

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 3:08 PM. Reason : If you're feeling really ambitious, and get info info, sue their asses in small claims court ]

12/5/2008 3:07:05 PM

Work, wouldn't give them home phone number, starting sounding fishy so I stopped communicating any information. Said the YOU WIN thing told them to mail info and maybe I'd consider it.

Ten phone calls later they're threatening to take me to collections.

(Yea I'm smarter than this, I'm kicking myself)

Only after all this do I get notified from coworkers the scammers call all the time. I advised them not to call me at work anymore or I'd have to get corporate involved, he raised cane with all sorts of yelling.

Obviously, I signed up for something unknowingly because if I knew I wouldn't have done it. Seriously, in this economy around Christmas I want 6 years of a magazine subscription where I have to pay for shipping and handling?

Anyway, just wondering if I could dodge a bullet to my credit. I don't remember the name of the company except it's Publishers something.

Damnit

12/5/2008 3:11:34 PM

^dispute it with the credit agencies if it is reported.

12/5/2008 3:14:08 PM

Quote :

"Both of my parents cautioned me to never get credit cards. It was my fault for not listening, and to this day I still blame credit card companies for the way they target college kids. It is probably different now with how strict the banks are to lend money these days. But when I was 19 I was able to get $3k credit cards from 2 different companies, without having any prior credit. So forgive me if I blame at least a small portion of the credit card debt people my age are in on the irresponsibility of credit card companies in their lending practices."

amen

The card companies aggressively market high interest, high fee cards to the people least likely to pay (18 year old high school students, college freshmen, etc). I do not really feel bad for them when a portion of the accounts get charged off.

It is business. When they are raping everyone for the fees and turning huge profits, good for them. They then expand what they are doing, and loosen standards further to rake in more in fees, interest, etc. When they economy takes a shit and their default rate shoots up, they lose money.

It is business.

Maybe that will teach them to keep a tighter leash on the money they lend in the future. It is not really good practice to lend money to very risky people and then charge them more of what they do not have for being a "high risk". That just means they are less likely to pay any of it back.

No one held a gun to these companies heads and made them advertise to young people and extend credit. They share in loss just like they shared in profit. It is the same action/consequence system we live by as individuals.

12/5/2008 3:31:07 PM

^^^^

Write Roy Cooper a letter.
http://www.ncdoj.com/consumerprotection/cp_about.jsp

or whatever state you live in.

12/5/2008 3:33:37 PM

how are they gonna fuck up your credit w/o your social?

12/5/2008 3:35:38 PM

I think they just threaten shit like that. My wife had a magazine subscription (legit through the publisher, not like freebie type shit kiwi is talking about) and canceled it. Well they screwed something up and it they stopped sending it but started sending her renewal bills saying she owed them money. She called them and they told her it would go on her credit report if she didn't pay, but all that got worked out when she talked to a manager or whoever was in charge.

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 3:41 PM. Reason : all that for like $25]

12/5/2008 3:40:44 PM

I have no idea how they expect to do anything as all they have is my homed address, name, and work #. When I told the guy to stop calling he made all sorts of threats about sending me to collections because they are a financial institution and I'm refusing to pay what I owe, blahblahblah. I don't know the law well enough to make the right step.

12/5/2008 3:41:56 PM

Quote :

"Personally, I feel people like you should go to jail. Not paying them back is essentially theft. Not for a long period of time or anything, maybe 30 days, just enough to sort out their priorities and get their act together."

LOL...maybe we should explain to you that you don't get paid to go to jail so sitting in jail isn't going to get you any closer to paying off your debt...infact it will set you back considerably because 1) you now have a record so good luck getting a job 2) if you had a job you a) lost it or b) aren't getting paid.

12/5/2008 3:46:10 PM

12/5/2008 4:12:35 PM

Quote :

"You shouldn't even be allowed to apply for a credit card until you are 21"

There are plenty of responsible people who are 18 that can handle having a credit card.

I wouldn't seek to punish them because other adults couldn't handle having one.

12/5/2008 4:20:19 PM

people make mistakes, i don't think it's our place to judge him, but to feel for him/her and hope that everything works out for them...

you people *shakes head*

12/5/2008 6:18:45 PM

^^ same thing as the drinking age. There are plenty of 18 year olds that can handle alcohol, but do you see them lowering the drinking age?

and the vice versa is true as well, there are plenty of 21 year olds that have no business consuming alcohol.

I am just saying, for the majority, it would be a good idea. Just like the drinking age

12/5/2008 6:24:05 PM

summary

12/5/2008 6:27:27 PM

didn't pay bill

didn't pay ever

taking him to court

wants to know if he's going to jail

answer is no

he sucks at life.

12/5/2008 6:32:55 PM

^^

-typical college irresponsibility with credit cards
-it is time to pay up, dude has no job and no money, so they are taking him to court
-he comes to TWW for legal advice (his second mistake behind getting a credit card he couldn't afford)
-2 pages full of people who think they know it all telling him what he should do, combined with the typical insults such as; "you are a moron", "you should have known better", "your parents didn't raise you right", "you should die", "you suck at life", and "i am way smarter than you when it comes to money"

That about sums it up

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 6:34 PM. Reason : I summed it up better than ^]

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 6:38 PM. Reason : added the "you suck at life" insult]

12/5/2008 6:34:16 PM

basically

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 6:34 PM. Reason : lol]

12/5/2008 6:34:42 PM

except I left out the "you suck at life" insult

12/5/2008 6:36:00 PM

you should fix that

12/5/2008 6:36:25 PM